Culture Aplenty is social comment and awareness about all things artsy and culturally interesting in Sparkle City

Though our hope and anticipation is that the holiday time will evoke tranquility, in actual fact, it is one of the most stressful times of the year. For some, it is even the most painful time of year. So how can we stay ahead of the stress (or at least manage it, somewhat)? Here are ten tips for the whole family.… Read More »

[Spartanburg Art Museum’s “A Dyeing Art” exhibition] reminded me of the larger cultural histories in which the Spartanburg community is grounded… such as quilting and the agricultural and economic history of cotton production in the American South.… Read More »

The historical backdrop of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl allowed Steinbeck to look closely at many sweeping social justice issues: racial segregation, a deeply misogynistic view of women, the mistreatment of the elderly, and also the ignorance of mental disability, just to name a few.… Read More »

About This Blog

Eighty years ago, John Steinbeck wrote one of the most critically acclaimed American novels in history, one that has become an integral part of our national consciousness. The author shone a light on a group of Americans living in extremely challenging circumstances, with nothing but a few clothes and a job that paid them in room, board, and only $50 a month. The historical backdrop of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl allowed Steinbeck to look closely at many sweeping social justice issues: racial segregation, a deeply misogynistic view of women, the mistreatment of the elderly, and also the ignorance of mental disability, just to name a few.

On Friday, Nov. 6, the Spartanburg Little Theatre will bring this classic American story to the stage at Chapman Cultural Center for two weekends. As the director of the play, I have thought a lot about the differences between our era and the era of the play. If we really broke these issues down and compared them to today’s society in 2015… have we changed that much? I think that staging Of Mice and Men in our current climate is important, because it is really asking that question – not answering it. As theatre artists, we hold a mirror up to our audiences and say to them, “Look at who you are, look at where you’ve come from, and also look at where you might be headed if you don’t fix these issues.” I think this is why we still read and stage this story.

One of the most enduring messages communicated within Of Mice and Men is how all people suffer. Suffering is the most common human experience, whether it be through loss, growing old, dealing with an ailment (physical or mental), giving up on a dream, sacrificing family time for over-time at work… the list could go on and on! If you are fortunate enough not to have suffered yet, you most certainly know someone who has. What I love about Of Mice and Men is that it is a testament to the most beautiful thing about suffering: taking comfort in the fact that we all experience it together. Our different experiences may vary, but it is a common human condition that we can all use to connect to each other and say, “It’s not just about my suffering. It’s about that person’s suffering over there.” Ultimately, it’s about reaching the point where we ask how we can help one another, and connect to each other through our shared experience.

This is not an easy play to put on, especially right now with all of its relevance. The characters have wants and needs that ring throughout the decades and are still ringing true today. The emotional content is heavy and our cast is tackling it full force. Having lost my mother only a month ago, at moments it was a difficult process for me, but in the end creating this play helped me heal, because I was able to share my story and connect with the other artists I was working with, and in turn they have shared their stories and connected with me. My great hope is that our audience will connect with this beautiful story the way that we have, and leave asking some of these important questions of themselves.

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Patric Phillips is the director of the Spartanburg Little Theatre’s upcoming production Of Mice and Men. Questions for Patric may be sent to his email: phillipspln9@gmail.com.